I read "tumbling bullets" and thought, "what kind of accuracy could a sniper possibly have with that?"

I'd like to know how a bullet can tumble after impact.

i'm not sure on the science behind it but i know that the R4 assualt rifles i used in the army have a bullet that sort of spirals through the air....the point stays put but the back end of the slug goes in a little circle....

when the slug hits something the rear of the slug being the heavier bit rolls over or 'tumbles' creating a larger cavity than it would've if it had flown straight, like an arrow..... as far as i know tha majority of assault rifle bullets do this (but some of the more gun type folk might know more)

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I read "tumbling bullets" and thought, "what kind of accuracy could a sniper possibly have with that?"

I'd like to know how a bullet can tumble after impact.

Physics:
Fluid dynamics + bullet structure + velocity + target material + environment factors = interesting results.
Ballistics are strange when you start doing a bit of research. I attended a wound ballistics workshop years ago and it was neat watching how all these factors affected the performance of different bullets.
The .338 Lapua is moving at a considerable velocity, and when using a spitzer-type projectile it's not abnormal for such a result. That's alot of energy in a long, relatively thin structure. Stronger construction might keep it together as it tumbles, maybe bending. Weaker construction or a cannelure can result in fragmentation... not that it necessarily matters.
Either way, a .338 to the dome is going to put a stop to whatever you were doing.

Tumble is produced whenever the precise balance is altered. Even by the slightest amount.

A bullet in flight is much like a high speed turbine.

The object's flight spin orientation is fragile and will not survive the introduction of any wobble.

Even the bullet hitting the smallest twig will introduce wobble.

Once the wobble starts it compounds over flight time or explosively upon contact.

This due to the fact that it is a very fast spinning high speed projectile.

A bullet is designed to be a kinetic energy package.

It's energy is imparted prior to leaving the barrel, then transferred over distance and dumped into whatever is impacted.

Ideally.
To add-
This is why you'd want a projectile designed to stop inside the intended target, otherwise it's sort of a loss of potential energy you could say.
"Stopping" could be from expansion, tumbling, fragmentation, etc.

That's what makes bullet design complicated... getting these results while still being able to defeat barriers.

Ideally.
To add-
This is why you'd want a projectile designed to stop inside the intended target, otherwise it's sort of a loss of potential energy you could say.
"Stopping" could be from expansion, tumbling, fragmentation, etc.

That's what makes bullet design complicated... getting these results while still being able to defeat barriers.

A

Ideally highest velocity Talons with some sort of a toxin that would be viable throughout the process.

Now, getting to that point...to that ideal....is much easier said than done.